Early-life sugar rationing linked to lower dementia risk

People exposed to Britain’s postwar sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days of life had more favorable brain health and a lower dementia risk later, according to an analysis in Neurology described by JAMA. JAMA’s report also says dementia onset was later among those exposed. The Guardian says recent studies using UK Biobank data have linked early-life sugar restriction with dementia and other health outcomes, but gives no dementia risk estimate.

A separate study cited by the Guardian found that people exposed to rationing throughout their first 1,000 days had a 33% lower risk of being diagnosed with anxiety than people born after rationing ended. Researchers caution that the findings show associations, not proof that sugar restriction caused the later health differences. The Guardian also notes that many recent studies draw on overlapping UK Biobank participants, so they are not independent replications.